Globally, gender equality is stagnating or regressing for 1 BN women and girls.
It’s important to flag this before any conversations can be had about any progress made in the innumerable smaller pockets of industry where men outnumber women.
According to the 2025 FTSE Women Leaders Review, women now occupy 1,275 or 43% of roles on company boards and 6,743 (35%) of leadership roles at the 350 FTSE companies
While this marks a notable increase from previous years and places the UK second globally in female board representation, just behind France’s 45.4%, there’s still considerable work to be done.
Challenges in Executive Leadership
Despite tse advancements, female CEOs in FTSE 350 companies decreased from 20 to 19 in 2024 with women currently holding just 35.3% of senior leadership positions within these companies.
This indicates that the target of 40% female representation in top executive roles by the end of 2025 is unlikely to be achieved.
Global Context and Voluntary Measures
France and Belgium have fared better and this is likely down to the enforcement of mandatory quotas for female board representation
However, while the UK only has voluntary measures, nearly three-quarters of FTSE 350 companies have met or exceeded the 40% target without legislative mandates.
This approach highlights the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between the government and businesses in promoting gender diversity.
Sector-Specific Disparities
The financial services sector continues to generate headlines for its inability to promote more women into leadership roles.
Culprits include global firms like Barclays, Rathbones, and Jupiter. Only 11 out of 43 London-listed banks and asset managers have achieved 40% female representation in leadership positions.
What’s the solution?
It’s easy to say that achieving true gender parity requires a sustained commitment to dismantling barriers and fostering inclusive cultures across all sectors. However, without a truly concerted effort, quite literally across the board, these words become meaningless.
International Women’s Day is more than just a reminder to support women, it’s to listen, advocate and drive real change for women, not just today, but always.
